Music

Heather Niven is an artist and musician, and the head of Science City York, an organisation tasked with supporting the science, digital and creative sectors in the city and stimulating their growth.

We discuss the projects Science City are running and the wider problems facing York and its future, we dive into Heather’s personal work and discuss the themes different artists are drawn to, as well as how to stay on top of multiple projects and make the most of your time.

Dani Barge (@Dani_Barge) is a professional writer, occasional artist, and hobbyist bass guitarist. She is the founder and editor of Arts York (@ArtsYorkOnline), an arts and culture webzine covering art, design, music, performing arts and film.

We chat about her approach to building stories, the ups and downs of following creative pursuits, and the grassroots activities currently going on in York.

Having started the project 9 years ago they are drawing closer to completing the barge, with some exciting news about the next stage in the development and fit out.

Hannah and Christian are both artists themselves, and we discuss how art and creativity are good for the soul, about the creativity required in running a large scale community project, and what we can look forward to when the barge is up and running.

Ben Bentley is an internationally published music, portrait and editorial photographer, shooting for publications, record labels and commercial clients such as Puma, Diesel, Topshop, BBC Music and Universal Pictures, as well as being a contributing photographer for the NME.

We discuss his journey into the photography world, the rapid rate of growth achieved by collaborating with a wider creative team, dropping out of university, and misconceptions about what photographers do.

Tom Holmes is the Head Of Creativity and Worship at The Belfrey, the largest parish church in York. He is responsible for overseeing graphic design, video, photography and marketing, and developing creative talent amongst the many staff and volunteers.

We discuss his approach to managing a creative team, the vision for the church to be open to collaborate with local artists, and his journey from theatre to music to photography and beyond.

Young Thugs Records came together in early 2016, after a series of collaborations between musicians from York’s live music scene started churning out an eclectic mixture of music. Young Thugs have released a diverse range of music, and host a range of unique gigs and events.

Jonny is the studio manager at Young Thugs Studios, which he spent the summer building above South Bank Social Club. The social club has become a hub for local musicians, with regular intimate ‘Hovel Sessions’ being held to promote and celebrate a diverse range of artists.

We discuss the origins of both the studio and the label, how Young Thugs have managed to have such a significant impact on York’s music scene in such a short space of time, their plans for the future, and the range of local talent that is currently exciting and inspiring him.